National News

Released soldier's parents given rare government access

A new report shows the parents of Army Sergeant Bowe Bergdahl took part in video conferences with top government and military officials while their son was held captive by the Taliban. The "Washington Times" reports that Robert and Jani Bergdahl were given unprecedented access to secure communications. They were hooked into secure video conferences that included members of the Obama administration, intelligence officials, and the military command that runs the war in Afghanistan. A spokesman for the Idaho National Guard says the Bergdahls took part in as many as 20 video conferences a year during the five years their son was a captive in Afghanistan. The Taliban released Bergdahl last week in exchange for five Taliban commanders who'd been held at the military prison at Guantanamo Bay.